Is there a way to tell if an Intel CPU can do 64-bit or not?

A

Ant

Hi.

I have a few years old Pentium 4 machine, but I don't know if it can do
64-bit. Is there a way to check without installing and running the
installed OS? Can I use a LiveCD (which one?), look in BIOS/CMOS
(didn't see anything to mention it), etc.?

Thank you in advance. :)
--
"I've been on some fairways that are as good as the greens we putted on
back then. We had crab grass. I remember one green where I putted
through ants." --Sam Snead
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )
 
I

Ian D

Ant said:
Hi.

I have a few years old Pentium 4 machine, but I don't know if it can do
64-bit. Is there a way to check without installing and running the
installed OS? Can I use a LiveCD (which one?), look in BIOS/CMOS
(didn't see anything to mention it), etc.?

Thank you in advance. :)
--
"I've been on some fairways that are as good as the greens we putted on
back then. We had crab grass. I remember one green where I putted
through ants." --Sam Snead
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

Go to www.cpuid.com and download CPU-Z, latest version 1.44.
When you run it check 'Instructions' on the CPU tab. If EM64T
is listed, it's a 64 bit CPU.
 
A

Ant

Go to www.cpuid.com and download CPU-Z, latest version 1.44.
When you run it check 'Instructions' on the CPU tab. If EM64T
is listed, it's a 64 bit CPU.

Um, I would have to install Windows to use it. I said "Is there a way to
check without installing and running the installed OS?"
--
"In an ant colony, dew is a flood." --Afghan
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: (e-mail address removed)
( ) or (e-mail address removed)
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
 
A

Ant

You can start here if you know the exact model of your CPU:

http://compare.intel.com/pcc/default.aspx?familyID=1&culture=en-US

I have no idea which model it is though.
--
"Don't stop to stomp ants when the elephants are stampeding." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: (e-mail address removed)
( ) or (e-mail address removed)
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
 
M

Murray Symon

Ant said:
I have no idea which model it is though.

You could try 'dmesg' or 'cat /proc/cpuinfo' in a terminal window
(aka command prompt, aka xterm).

Caveat: They rely your kernel recognising the CPU correctly - that
will depend on how up to date it is (considering that your OP
header listed FC3, 2.6.11 as your platform).
 
T

Trent

Hi.

I have a few years old Pentium 4 machine, but I don't know if it can do
64-bit. Is there a way to check without installing and running the
installed OS? Can I use a LiveCD (which one?), look in BIOS/CMOS
(didn't see anything to mention it), etc.?

Thank you in advance. :)

There is a five digit code on top of the chip that begins with SL. What is
the code on yours?
 
A

Ant

There is a five digit code on top of the chip that begins with SL. What is
the code on yours?

Oh, I forgot to say without opening up the case earlier. :) I guess that
would work. Do I just Google that serial number/code to get the answer?
--
"... Our world is not an ant farm!" --Duncan MacLeod (Highlander Season
3 Finale Part II)
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: (e-mail address removed)
( ) or (e-mail address removed)
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
 
Y

Yousuf Khan

Ant said:
Hi.

I have a few years old Pentium 4 machine, but I don't know if it can do
64-bit. Is there a way to check without installing and running the
installed OS? Can I use a LiveCD (which one?), look in BIOS/CMOS
(didn't see anything to mention it), etc.?

Thank you in advance. :)

You can always download one of the 32-bit Linux live-cd's, such as
Ubuntu. Once you boot up into the cd, then all you would have to do is
run the command "more /proc/cpuinfo" at a command prompt. It should show
as one of its flags that either EM64T or AMD64 or x86-64 or x64 or
something like that is supported. I would assume it's most likely going
to be called x86-64 under Linux.

Yousuf Khan
 
A

Ant

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.systems Trent said:
Message id: <[email protected]>:

Place your SL code in the sSpec search box. This should get you to what
you're looking for.

Thanks!
--
"I've been on some fairways that are as good as the greens we putted on
back then. We had crab grass. I remember one green where I putted
through ants." --Sam Snead
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )
 
A

Ant

I have a few years old Pentium 4 machine, but I don't know if it can do
You can always download one of the 32-bit Linux live-cd's, such as
Ubuntu. Once you boot up into the cd, then all you would have to do is
run the command "more /proc/cpuinfo" at a command prompt. It should show
as one of its flags that either EM64T or AMD64 or x86-64 or x64 or
something like that is supported. I would assume it's most likely going
to be called x86-64 under Linux.

Thanks, that will work for my scenario. I just didn't want to tamper
with installation and the HDD. :)
--
"I've been on some fairways that are as good as the greens we putted on
back then. We had crab grass. I remember one green where I putted
through ants." --Sam Snead
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )
 
S

Scott Alfter

Um, I would have to install Windows to use it. I said "Is there a way to
check without installing and running the installed OS?"

Boot up your favorite Linux live CD, log in, and type this:

cat /proc/cpuinfo

The "flags" line will list everything that your processor supports.

A simpler go/no-go test would be to make sure it's an AMD64 live CD instead
of an x86 live CD...either it'll boot or it won't.

_/_
/ v \ Scott Alfter (remove the obvious to send mail)
(IIGS( http://alfter.us/ Top-posting!
\_^_/ rm -rf /bin/laden >What's the most annoying thing on Usenet?
 
D

DaveW

Tell us specifically which version/model of P4 CPU you have and we'll tell
you if it is 64 bit.
 
A

Ant

Tell us specifically which version/model of P4 CPU you have and we'll tell
you if it is 64 bit.

I forgot to mention that I do not want to open the computer case. So I
don't know which P4 it is.
--
"An anthill increases by accumulation. / Medicine is consumed by
distribution. / That which is feared lessens by association. / This is
the thing to understand." --Siddha Nagarjuna
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: (e-mail address removed)
( ) or (e-mail address removed)
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
 
P

Paul Vojta

I forgot to mention that I do not want to open the computer case. So I
don't know which P4 it is.

Well, short of extreme measures such as X-raying the computer, you'll have
to find out by running some sort of program. To do that, you should either
say what operating system is currently running on the computer, or run
some sort of live CD. The latter has already been mentioned as a possibility.

So, at this point, why are you still asking questions?

--Paul Vojta, (e-mail address removed)
 

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